Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has advised Unai Emery to remain at Aston Villa rather than accept a potential offer to become Manchester United manager.

According to a report by Metro on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Benitez believes Emery should think carefully before leaving Villa Park, insisting that the Spaniard currently enjoys the backing and support needed to continue building a successful team.

Emery has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Michael Carrick at Old Trafford amid growing uncertainty surrounding the Manchester United manager's position.

Carrick was appointed on a permanent basis during the summer after guiding United to an impressive third-place finish last season. However, his position has come under pressure following a difficult start to the 2026/27 campaign.

United had dropped to 17th in the Premier League table, just two points above bottom-placed Sunderland, before their Champions League meeting with Roma.

Although Carrick's side secured a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over the Italian club on Tuesday to end their nine-match winless run, questions remain about their consistency.

Emery, meanwhile, has continued to build his reputation during his nearly four-year spell at Aston Villa, making him an attractive option should United decide to change managers.

However, Benitez believes leaving a club where he receives widespread support could prove unnecessary at this stage of his career.

Speaking to talkSPORT, the former Liverpool boss said: "But I can tell you that if you're at a club where they support you, they give you almost everything that you need, you can build something and Unai is already doing that."

He added: "So I think it is a time for him to continue doing that and later on see."

Benitez also suggested that Emery could reconsider his options in the future if Aston Villa fail to meet his ambitions.

"In a couple of years, if he cannot get what he wants, his aspirations or his targets, maybe he has to consider other things," he said.

The Spaniard also highlighted the difficulty of finding a club where a manager enjoys strong backing from the owners, supporters and everyone around the team.

Emery will have an opportunity to further demonstrate his progress at Villa when his side face Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend.